Restoration nears completion - August 2002
BRIGHTON’s historic
Jubilee Clock Tower is to
receive its newly
restored mast and rising
ball mechanism this
Monday, 2 September.
The delicate operation
involves lifting the new
bronze mast, complete
with a gilded copper ball
weighing 100 kilos, to
the top of the tower and
securing it in place. To
ensure safety the work
will be carried out
between 00.30am and
6.30am on Monday morning.
All the roads around the
Clock Tower will be
closed to traffic, and
pedestrians will also be
prevented from entering
the immediate area.
Councillor Chris Morley,
chair of the environment
committee, said: “This
will be an historic
moment. The Clock Tower,
built in 1888 to
commemorate Queen
Victoria’s Jubilee the
previous year, has not
been fully operational
for 100 years, so it
entirely fitting that we
are bringing it back to
full working order
during Queen Elizabeth’s
Golden Jubilee this
year.”
The rising and falling
ball was originally
stopped in 1902 as the
noise was said to be
“frightening the horses.”
Once operational the ball
will rise up and down the
mast, hourly, in
synchronisation with the
hands of the clock.
Following installation of
the mast and ball the
scaffolding will remain
in place while the
finishing touches are
added. These include
painting and additional
gilding work to the
scales at the top of the
tower, in accordance with
the original appearance,
further cleaning, and
reinstatement of the
refurbished clock hands.
Weather permitting, these
works are expected to be
completed by the end of
September, but fine
weather is essential to
carry out the additional
gilding.
The total cost of the
completed project will be
in the region of
£100,000, and includes
contributions from Boots
and The Regency Society.
The works on Monday
morning are being carried
out by Lifting Gear
Engineering, of Erith.
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